Roberts' Gift Supports Healthcare Design, Architectural Photography, Study Abroad

Greg Roberts, a University of Arkansas alumnus and retired principal with WHR Architects, has given $3 million to the university to continue support for an endowed chair, establish an endowed scholarship and a program endowment, and provide for the naming of a studio space in the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design.

"As a proud Razorback who used what he learned here to build a remarkable career, Greg Roberts knows firsthand the transformative power of a University of Arkansas education," said Chancellor Charles Robinson. "This extraordinary gift will help give generations of Fay Jones School students the knowledge, experiences and faculty leadership they need to thrive in their own careers. We are deeply grateful for Greg's generosity and steadfast commitment to the U of A."

Roberts, originally from Fort Smith, is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and had a successful career in healthcare design for over three decades. He earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the U of A in 1971 before moving to Houston to begin his career.

“This generous gift from Greg Roberts will significantly impact the ‘design futures’ of the Fay Jones School,” said Dean Peter MacKeith. “His initial gift emphasizes and supports the important role design plays in shaping the built environment to the specific needs of health and wellness.”

“This new, dramatic expansion of Greg’s gift in both size and scope is testament to his own vision, belief and commitment to the future of the school and its teaching and learning mission,” MacKeith continued, “as well as to the seemingly boundless generosity of his heart. Future generations of Fay Jones School students will benefit from the scholarship support and the expansion of our visualization resources. Thank you, Greg Roberts!”

Healthcare and Wellness Design

The expanding field of healthcare has become increasingly important, particularly in Northwest Arkansas with organizations such as the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine and the Heartland Whole Health Institute. Roberts said he believes it will be advantageous for architecture and design students at the U of A to study healthcare and wellness design.

“It’s one building type that has been very rewarding for me. It’s one type that really has an impact with people, not only on their wellbeing but on their longevity,” Roberts said. “Early on in my relationship with Dean MacKeith, we talked about how the school should develop a curriculum with a focus on healthcare and wellness. I’m hoping my gift will help nurture that direction.”

This gift increases a $1 million planned gift Roberts made in 2020 that created the Greg L. Roberts Endowed Chair in Healthcare and Wellness Design in the Fay Jones School. From this recent gift, $1 million will increase support for the chair in the following ways:

• Attracting and retaining highly qualified individuals to the position
• Supplementing university support for outstanding faculty
• Providing the holder with the resources to expand their contributions to teaching, research and public service

Architectural Photography

Roberts said that architectural photography is an important aspect of professional architectural practice. It is beneficial for building an archive of work, for marketing purposes and for using visual aids to help explain construction and renovation processes to contractors. During visits to the Fay Jones School, Roberts observed students simply using their cell phones to photograph projects. He has contributed $1 million to help improve this process.

Of this, $500,000 will establish the Greg L. Roberts Endowment for Architectural Photography and Visualization. The educational initiative highlights the importance of architectural photography, image-making and visualization to the design profession. These funds will support professional elective seminars, curated exhibitions, public lectures related to architectural photography, equipment acquisition and upgrades, software for renderings, virtual reality imaging equipment and training, and facilities.

The remaining $500,000 will fund the Greg L. Roberts Architectural Photography and Imaging Studio, which will serve as the home of the new educational initiative dedicated to architectural photography, image-making and visualization. The fund will convert studio 019, located on the garden level of Vol Walker Hall, into a new multipurpose space that facilitates photo shoots, photo and archival storage, and studio workstations.

Travel Scholarships

The remaining $1 million of Roberts’ gift will create the Greg L. Roberts Endowed Travel Scholarships in Architecture and provide financial assistance to students pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture for the study abroad component of the professional degree program. Recipients of the scholarships must be enrolled full-time in the professional track architecture program, have at least a 2.75 grade point average, and be entering their fourth or fifth year of the program. Funds will be used for study abroad and travel-related expenses in completing the program’s study abroad requirement.

“We are grateful to Greg Roberts for his investment in the full arc of a University of Arkansas education — rigorous training, exposure to the world beyond campus and the tools needed to practice at the highest professional level,” said Scott Varady, vice chancellor for advancement. “By supporting faculty leadership, hands-on learning and global educational experience, Greg is helping ensure students are prepared to design environments that serve people, communities and health systems now and for generations to come.”

Roberts said the U of A and the Fay Jones School are deeply meaningful to him. He attended the university from 1966 to 1971 — a dynamic time in the country defined by major social and political changes. Roberts remembers this time as challenging, exciting and stimulating. He became very close with his classmates in the Fay Jones School and maintains close contact with many to this day. The Fay Jones School graduating class of 1971 gathers for reunions periodically, and Roberts and his classmate Jeffrey Scherer maintain a blog for the class.

“It was just a time when a lot of changes were going on. Those memories and relationships have meant a lot to me, and that’s one of the reasons I’ve made these gifts, to give back to the university and, particularly, the school of architecture,” Roberts said. “I’m very proud of that education and the experiences that I had during that time. I’m very excited about the direction the department has been going. Particularly since Dean MacKeith took over the helm, it’s made tremendous strides to become a notable school of architecture in the country.”

Roberts is a member of the Arkansas Alumni Association and the Fay Jones School’s Dean’s Circle. He is recognized as a Thoroughred for his 16 years of consecutive giving to the University of Arkansas and is included in the Towers of Old Main, a giving society for the university’s most generous benefactors.

About University Advancement: University Advancement advances the mission of the University of Arkansas by raising private gift support from alumni, friends, parents, foundations, corporations, and other institutional supporters. Working in philanthropic partnership with academic leaders and volunteers, Advancement team members are determined to advance the people, work, and impact of the greater whole at the University of Arkansas.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy  through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.